Information provided by: Find a Grave Contributor Mark Mudge
Sergeant William Shirley died in the early morning hours of 3 January 1945 near Bining, Lorraine, France. He was killed by a shell fragment when the area of “C” Battery received numerous rounds from enemy light and medium caliber artillery. Later that day, two other members of “C” Battery were injured (Cpl. Howard Guiles and Pfc. William Majnaric) when they were again subjected to enemy artillery fire. William was 28 years old and was survived by his wife.
Sgt. Shirley was buried on 6 January 1945 at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Epinal, France. One of his identification tags was buried with his body and one was attached to the temporary wooden grave marker as specified in the Quartermaster Corps Instructions for Burial.
His return to the United States began in February 1948 when his remains were shipped by train from Epinal, France to Antwerp, Belgium. From there, a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to New York aboard the United States Army Transport Robert F. Burns, a ship which carried returning servicemen three years earlier. A uniformed escort of the same rank as or higher rank than the Soldier Dead accompanied each casket from the port to the point of final disposition.
In April 1948, he was permanently interred in the Coneross Baptist Church Cemetery located in Oconee County, South Carolina between Walhalla and Westminster.
Information provided by: Find a Grave Contributor Mark Mudge
Sergeant William Shirley died in the early morning hours of 3 January 1945 near Bining, Lorraine, France. He was killed by a shell fragment when the area of “C” Battery received numerous rounds from enemy light and medium caliber artillery. Later that day, two other members of “C” Battery were injured (Cpl. Howard Guiles and Pfc. William Majnaric) when they were again subjected to enemy artillery fire. William was 28 years old and was survived by his wife.
Sgt. Shirley was buried on 6 January 1945 at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Epinal, France. One of his identification tags was buried with his body and one was attached to the temporary wooden grave marker as specified in the Quartermaster Corps Instructions for Burial.
His return to the United States began in February 1948 when his remains were shipped by train from Epinal, France to Antwerp, Belgium. From there, a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to New York aboard the United States Army Transport Robert F. Burns, a ship which carried returning servicemen three years earlier. A uniformed escort of the same rank as or higher rank than the Soldier Dead accompanied each casket from the port to the point of final disposition.
In April 1948, he was permanently interred in the Coneross Baptist Church Cemetery located in Oconee County, South Carolina between Walhalla and Westminster.
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